Washington, DC – The continuing refusal of senior leaders at Defenders of Wildlife (Defenders) to operate in good faith and bargain fairly with the organization’s staff union (Defenders United) has led to what will be the first worker’s strike in the conservation organization’s 77 year history. The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2 authorized a 2-day unfair labor practice (ULP) strike after an overwhelming majority of Defenders United’s 76-member bargaining unit voted in favor. The strike will take place on July 9-10 unless the parties are able to reach an agreement on restoring union members’ annual wage increases and equal access to improved benefits, which Defenders’ leadership unilaterally removed last year, contradicting clear past practice on these issues. Non-union staff received both.
“Enough is enough,” said Kathleen Callaghy, a member of Defenders United’s Contract Action Team. “We work hard every day trying to save America’s wildlife, earning salaries that don’t keep pace with inflation. Withholding raises and extended maternity and bereavement leave specifically from unionized workers – the lowest paid staff in the organization – is, to us, clear discrimination and retaliation against unionized staff.”
The Union filed ULP charges over the withdrawn raises and access to new benefits, which are pending investigation by the National Labor Relations Board. In recent negotiations to resolve the charges, Management’s bargaining team refused to go above their sole offer of restoring raises at 2% for all union members, despite the average raise for union members being close to 3% over the previous two years. They also insist on a previously unannounced “salary cap” that would prevent at least seven bargaining unit members from receiving any raise – ever again. The Union’s counter offer of 2.75% for all members with no cap, which was rejected, would only cost the organization roughly an additional $50,000 annually.
President/CEO Clark announced her resignation from Defenders of Wildlife last November. Her successor, Andrew Bowman, will take up the President/CEO role in August 2024.
“We have every intention of building a positive relationship with the new CEO,” said Sebastian Palacio, a member of Defenders United’s Bargaining Committee. “So it’s important to us that this critical issue be resolved now by the person who caused it. If Defenders is to heal and thrive, its leaders have to show current and future employees that they are willing to resolve past mistakes.”
Unionized staff will picket in person from 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM on July 9 and 10 at Defenders of Wildlife’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Remote Defenders staff across the U.S. will participate in a virtual, live-streamed picket on the Union’s social media channels. The public is invited to join these activities and to make small donations (e.g. $1) in honor of “Union staff” on Defenders’ website to demonstrate support for both workers and wildlife.
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